PRIDE | California’s first post-prohibition Pride was quite the party

What a Pride it was!

The LGBTQ+ and medical marijuana movements have been marching arm-in-arm for decades now, and with each making major breakthroughs in recent years, there’s been plenty to celebrate. Pride festivals around the state in 2018 were also enjoying the first year of adult-use cannabis in California, a reality that simply wouldn’t be without the innumerable sacrifices of all those who marched, advocated and survived before us.

That’s why Eaze gathered a formidable array of friends and partners from the LGBTQ+ community, the cannabis industry and other advocacy organizations to show up, wave the flag and give back during Pride festivals around the state for most of June and July.

Eaze employees, families and friends participated in Pride parades in San Francisco (June 23-24), Venice (June 1-3), Los Angeles (June 9-10) and San Diego (July 13-15), and as you can see, we had a blast. Even our doggos got in on the action.

San Francisco Pride [Photo by Robby Durler]

Our hearts are still in San Francisco.

The granddaddy of them all, and right in our own backyard, was the San Francisco Pride parade on June 23. Eaze was out in force–and we definitely weren’t alone.

Joining us on the streets were the San Francisco chapter of ASA (Americans for Safe Access), as well as Operation EVAC (Educating Veterans About Cannabis), the nonprofit that helps former service men and women adjust to life after the military with education, compassionate care, and job-placement services.

Catharine Edney, Xochitl Martinez and Linci Comi march in the San Francisco Pride parade on behalf of Operation EVAC [photo by Mark Poitier]And we were thrilled to have with us Wayne Justmann (pictured, below), the first medical cannabis patient in California, as well as Jeffrey Peron, brother of the late, great cannabis advocate Dennis Peron.

Wayne Justmann (left) at San Francisco Pride [photo by Robby Durler]

Cannabis gives back.

To honor all that these groups have accomplished, several Eaze brand partners joined us in giving back this year.

Edibles experts PLUS created limited-edition rainbow sorbet gummies for Pride, with a portion of each purchase donated to The Trevor Project’s crisis prevention and suicide prevention help center.

Jetty Extracts donated a percentage of sales from every Reckless Rainbow Gold cartridge and Reckless Rainbow PAX Era Pod to LGBTQ+ advocacy groups including Mr Friendly, which aims to reduce the stigma of HIV. (PAX also made an additional donation to Mr Friendly with every Reckless Rainbow PAX Era Pod purchase.)

[Photo by Robby Durler]Dosist donated all proceeds from June 1-12 to nonprofit partner LA Pride—an organization that has been a driving force in LGBTQ rights advocacy since 1970.